our Lord? Has he made his servants "free from righteousness,"— that is, perfectly graceless, and perfectly sinful,- and has not our God made his servants perfectly "free from sin"? But this is St. Paul's claim. As Dr. Clarke remarks, in the one we have the finished character of a sinner, and in the other the finished character of a genuine Christian. "I know not," says that learned writer, "whether it be possible to paint the utter prevalence of sin in stronger colors than the apostle here does, by saying they were FREE from righteousness. It seems tantamount to that expression in Gen. 6: 5, where, speaking of the total degeneracy of the human race, the writer says, Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually; they were altogether abominable; there was none that did good; no, not one." And I would ask whether it is possible to paint in stronger colors the entire prevalence of holiness throughout spirit, soul and body, than the apostle does, by saying, they were FREE from sin. This is all I have time to say on the subject at present. CHAPTER XVIII. IS SANCTIFICATION GRADUAL, OR INSTANTANEOUS? YOUR question is a common one: Is sanctification gradual, or is it instantaneous?" It is one frequently asked in a revival of this doctrine, and very properly, too. I would reply, It is gradual in three respects, and it is instantaneous in one. We gradually advance in it, 1st. From the moment we are justified. Inward sanctification begins then; from that hour, we gradually die to sin and live to God. 2d. After we are entirely sanctified, we ascend, all through life, to higher degrees of it. 3d. After death we shall rise still higher, and progress eternally in the love and image of God. There will be no period in our heavenly history when we shall cease this progression. I suppose it is the same with the wicked in all the infernal depravity of hell. This is a digression; but it is a terrible thought. However, the idea of rising into higher degrees of holiness and love, through all eternity, is, to me, and to every Christian, a most pleasing thought. An old writer remarks, "Grace is glory in the bud; and glory is grace in the flower. In short, glory is nothing else but grace commencing and taking its DEGREES." A student, who finishes his education in a university, and takes the highest degree, and enters upon professional life, does not pause, but advances to higher degrees of knowledge and intellectual greatness; that is, if he make a good use of his education. And, indeed, so he would were the Almighty to confer upon him an earthly immortality,--such is the nature and grandeur of the human intellect. The sentiment of a fine writer is beautifully true, that the most perfect human being is, at best, in this world, nothing more than an unfinished sketch of humanity; a creature full of preassurance, and anticipation of future development and final perfection. In one respect entire sanctification is instantaneous; that act of the Holy Ghost, accorded to our faith, by which sin is entirely expelled from the soul,-when the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin, is "an instantaneous deliverance from all sin; and includes an instantaneous power then given always to cleave to God." Thus, as an excellent man remarked, it is gradual in preparation, but instantaneous in reception. And the more earnestly we long for this unspeakable blessing, the more swiftly the preparation increases. The gradual preparation is often short. When the soul wills it, earnestly desires it, and quickly abandons all for it, and prays, as it should, "From this inbred sin deliver; Let the yoke now be broke ; Make me thine forever. "Partner of thy perfect nature, Let me be now in thee A new, sinless creature. "Come, Lord, be manifested here, And all the devil's works destroy; Now without sin in me appear, And fill with everlasting joy : Thy beatific face display; O, with one of old, cry "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me;" and to all this add implicit trust in such promises as 1 John 1: 9, Mark 11: 24; then will our God cut short the work in righteousness. Rom. 9: 28. If men have any great work to do, time and labor are required in proportion. A familiarity with this human rule tempts men to limit the Holy One of Israel, in the work of human sanctification, making it a tedious process. But when God works little time is needed. As Mr. Wesley remarks, “What is time necessary for? It must be either to do or to suffer. Whereas, if nothing be required but simple faith, a moment is as good as an age." Nature has something to say. How soon the sun can fill our hemisphere with sunshine! - in the twinkling of an eye. When Providence sets out to banish night, how quickly it is done! No sooner does morning begin to tremble over the sky, than day waves his banner over us, and, as the prophet Joel finely remarks, "MORNING is spread upon the mountains ;" ay, and light and sunshine fill the valleys. Is it more difficult to banish the darkness and pollution of sin from the soul, and fill it with unity and love? If unbelief whispers "Yes," I would jog it with the question, "Is anything too hard for God?"-Gen. 18:14. I think it detracts from his omnipotence to insist altogether upon a gradual deliverance from sin; or, that it is not that hateful thing which God himself declares it to be; and this, also, would detract from his veracity and sincerity. You ask for my "argument, if it be instantaneous." Well, I would say: 1. We are constantly exposed to SUDDEN DEATH.— Many real Christians die in a moment, by accident or otherwise; one moment in perfect health, the next in eternity. What, then, becomes of the argument for the gradual work? If they are cleansed from all sin at all, it must have been in a moment, and when in perfect health. If a moment before, and when in health, why not a year, or ten years? The argument falls to the ground, therefore. 2. We are JUSTIFIED instantly, and not by degrees. There is a last moment when a believing penitent is not justified, and a first moment when he is. This is common sense. It cannot be otherwise, if he is justified at all. The process may, indeed, be gradual and painful, but his pardon is instantaneous; consequently there must be a last moment and a first, as already remarked, a last moment when he is a child of the devil and an heir of hell a first moment when he is a child of God and an heir of heaven. How is this brought about? By FAITH. "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.". - Rom. 5: 1. Why not sanctified in a similar manner? The instrumentality is the same,-faith; "sanctified by faith."Acts 26 18. "Purifying their hearts by faith."- Acts 15:9. By what authority do we insist upon the gradual process entirely? I say entirely, because we believe also in the gradual process. But a beginning implies an end; a commencement, a finish; progression, a termination. We believe in the instantaneous, therefore; that the believer, like a dying person, gradually dies to sin. The progress is gradual, and often painful; but there is a last moment and a first; a last moment when sin is not dead, and a first moment when it is; as in the case of the dying person, a last moment when the body is not dead, and a first moment when it is. As with the believing penitent, a last moment when unforgiven, and a first moment when forgiven. What a change when the sinner is pardoned! How great when |